I can’t wait to get my life back – Diane’s Story

I am 46, a mother of 3 and nana of 2. I have suffered from painful prolonged periods since I was 14 and the GP had me on anti inflammatory tablets, birth control pill and hormone therapies, nothing worked. I have suffered for 2 weeks of every month for the past 32 years.

I have been referred to gynecologists on numerous occasions who had me try the Mirena coil (didn’t work), pain patches, physiotherapy etc. The longest periods of peace have been through my pregnancies.

I asked for a hysterectomy at the age of 32 as I became severely depressed due to the impact pain, breakthrough bleeding and flooding were having on my life and family life. I was refused as the gynae said I was too young.

In May this year I started suffering from long bouts of nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain. The doctor treated me for the norovirus and my symptoms would ease for a few days or a week and then recur. I was examined and told I had possible Crohns disease. medication for that didn’t help at all and eventually I was examined by a locum GP. who said he could feel a mass in my lower abdomen, possibly on an ovary. From that point on things moved very quickly; an ultrasound, ft scan and MRI found and confirmed two 3inch tumours and a large fibroid together with spinal cysts.

My gynaecologist has been brilliant and has said I am to have a full hysterectomy with the cervix ( I have had abnormal smears) and ovaries removed. I am due to have surgery in 4 weeks.

I am delighted and can’t wait to have my life back. I know it won’t be easy and that I will probably need HRT although I’m going to try homeopathic medications first, but I am so looking forward to it. Sorry for the long rambling tale but just wanted others to know there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I have prepared myself as much as I can both mentally and physically for the surgery and looking at people’s stories and experiences has helped to reassure me that I am doing the right thing both for myself and my family. Good luck and best wishes to anyone else going through the same experience. I look forward to my rebirth day :-))

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Now available on our online store and all other online book store’s. In My Own Words: Women’s Experience of Hysterectomy is full of many other real-life stories from women the world over.

Other people’s stories help women feel less isolated. They show that they aren’t going mad, missing the point or stupid.